" Sir
John Hawkins believed the composer to be a sincere Christian.
He was a man of blameless morals, and throughout his life manifested a
deep sense of religion. In conversation he would frequently declare the
pleasure he felt in setting the scriptures to music: and how much the
contemplating the many sublime passages in the Psalms had contributed to
his edification; and now that he found himself near his end, these
sentiments were improved into solid and rational piety, attended with a
calm and even temper of mind."